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RE: Custom dash -- sin or inspired?

To: "'Growe58@aol.com'" <Growe58@aol.com>, spitfires@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: Custom dash -- sin or inspired?
From: Craig Smith <CraigS@iewc.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 10:18:30 -0600
I got a custom dash but not by choice !
The DPO moved the headlight switch and installed a extra guage. I have three
now, Fuel--Oil Pressure--Temp
He put the headlight, fan booster,and wiper switch down where the radio was.
He also put in an Amp guage.

I am still trying to figure out what the hell he did.... IT's a mess


-----Original Message-----
From: Growe58@aol.com [mailto:Growe58@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2000 10:13 AM
To: spitfires@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Custom dash -- sin or inspired?



Has anyone ever actually "re-designed the dash?"  I've
thought about swapping the radio and fuel/water temp
gauges since a higher mounted radio would be more
convenient.  And if instead of having the passenger
side dash "kick up" for the parcel shelf, you continued
a flat bottom line, then a proper glove box with a door
could be utilized, like the TR6.  And wouldn't it be
useful to have room for speaker grills on the dash?

I guess this would also require some re-engineering of 
the metal dash frame behind the wood.  I'd be interested
in hearing of anyone's real life experiences.

Greg Rowe
78 Spitfire 

Hi Jeff,,
    in the process of building a '73 1500 from boxes of junk I came upon the
same problem.  I opted to build my own.
I bought a 5' X 5' X 3/8" piece of 7 ply Baltic Birch for $30,
made drawings and tracings of the pits of my old dash and proceeded to cut
newpieces,
I used a dremel router attachment to make the holes for instruments,
switches
etc,
and laminated a veneer of Mahagony (not original I know, but looks good too)
Now Im up to coat numbet 11 of Spar varnish.
So far it looks original!
Total cost about $40 and several weeks of labour!
Cheers, Fred

Jeff McNeal wrote:

> Hi everyone.  I've once again found myself in a bit of a pickle.   A happy
> one, this time, but a pickle nonetheless.  The original, 33-year-old
English> Walnut dash on my Spitfire was intact, but in need of some serious
> restoration.  Removing my guages with their gummy, sticky mounting gaskets
> that broke off flakes of the veneer didn't help matters.  The original
wood
> and the
> other "correct" and factory new.  Which one would you put in YOUR
Spitfire?
>
> Appreciate the feedback.
>

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